140 year of Shriners

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Marius Dasianu, 9, suffered severe burns over 75 percent of his body when his house in Romania caught fire. The blaze killed his parents and left Marius to face a long, painful recovery.

The doctors treating Marius had done all they could when Jessica Free, a 20-year-old missionary from Mesa, began visiting him in a Romanian hospital in January.

Marius needed new eyelids and a new nose. His fingers also had to be amputated after the fire.

Free and Ashley Ludlow, a fellow Brigham Young University student, knew the treatments Marius had received weren't enough, so the women formed Team Marius to bring the boy to America. Marius and his brother, Ionut, now live with the Frees in between surgeries and treatments at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Los Angeles.

A benefit concert will be held today at Gilbert High School for Marius. The Shriners pay for his medical care, but renewing visas and paying for travel between Mesa and Los Angeles is costly.

The brothers also may have to go back to Romania during Marius' recovery, which could last until he is 18.

Some of his physical therapy doesn't fall under the hospital's program.

Tickets for the concert featuring country group Due West and LIGHT International Inc., a group of young-adult performers from Gilbert and Mesa, are $10 and $15. Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. at Gilbert High.

"Seeing the pictures, you just know that you can do this," said Free's mother, Kristin.

"We are blessed with a stable family. I have seven kids. Two more wasn't a big deal."

Free stayed home from college this semester to help care for Marius. Pictures of him before the fire tugged at her heart.

She wanted to do all she could to give the boy she met in a hospital bed in Romania a better life.

Since coming to America, Marius' condition has greatly improved. Doctors gave him new eyelids, and he also will receive a new nose and reconstructive surgery on his hands.

Five of Nevada County’s finest student athletes were chosen to play in the North/South Shriners Hospital Benefit Football game on Saturday, Nov. 15. The players were from the Nevada Union Junior Miners Midget football team. Kyle Cota,Jared Cook, Stone Sanders, Cameron Towensend and Tanner Vallejo.

These fine young men spent many hours doing community service to raise thousands of dollars for the hospital.

They would like to thank the community and their families for all the support. What these young men accomplished was nothing short of amazing, not only did they learn what some of the boys and girls have to go through while at Shriners with the burns and bone injuries; they got to see first hand with a tour of the hospital with theSacramento State football players.

Nevada County should be so proud of the five young men who truly showed what Nevada County youth student athletes are all about. And, by the way, the north won the game 26-19 way to go junior Miners.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Trim-Texm, along with partners Hoosier Tire, and Fall-Line Motorsports will be competing in the National Auto Sports Association’s 25 Hours of Thunderhill in California early next month. This will be a drive for the overall win, as well as a Drive for Charity—teaming up with Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Thunderhill is the longest race held in the United States and due to its running next month, it has been called the “most severe endurance race on the planet.” With more than 14 hours of darkness, and temperatures that can range from below freezing to above 70, coupled with a severe track that has many blind turns and elevation changes, the drive to the finish will be a tough one.

Team Trim-Tex/Hoosier/Fall-Line will have a great driver line-up and team for the “Drive for 25.” The custom-built 2005 BMW M3 will be piloted by long-time motorcycle drag racer Joe Koenig, who recently competed in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs in only his first full year of sports car racing. Joining Joe will be the 2007 SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge Rookie of the Year, Brian Kubinski, who brings GT race experience to the quartet of drivers. The remaining drivers are all experienced endurance racers coming from the Fall-Line Motorsports Grand-Am Koni Challenge team. Steve Jenkins and Mark Boden have been Koni Challenge co-drivers for the past three seasons. With Top ten finishes in pro racing, as well as multiple wins in club racing, Steve and Mark will provide the endurance racing mentality for the team. Rob May (Fall-Line Team manager) will also be suited up for driver duties should the need arise.

This 25-hour-long race will be a grueling test of both man and machine. Every driver and team member will be pledging a per lap donation to Shriners Hospitals for Children. In past years, the overall winners of the race have done approx 650 laps from Green to Checker. The team’s goal for the “Drive for 25” is to raise a minimum of $25,000 for Shriners Hospitals for Children and will graciously accept donations from the public. To make a pledge, please call (773) 622-5400 ext 5623.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a health care system dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs. Every year, they provide care for thousands of kids with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate in a caring and nurturing family-centered environment at no charge. As a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, Shriners Hospitals for Children relies on the donations of Shriners and the general public to carry out their mission and change the lives of children every day.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Thanks to teen's compassion, even prison can't bar kindnessInmates knit items that are donated to homeless

By HECTOR CASTRO P-I REPORTER

Thursday morning, when most people are likely to be either sleeping or starting early on the day's feast, one teenage volunteer will be out on the cold and empty Seattle streets delivering handmade caps, scarves, gloves and blankets to homeless men and women just as she has for six previous Thanksgivings.

"Sometimes, they are shocked that we are giving these for free," Megan Johnson, 17, said. "Some of them actually cry."

This year, some of the gifts she hands out are coming from an unlikely source -- inmates of the Monroe Correctional Complex.

Tuesday, the Federal Way teenager and her mother, Jill Johnson, were at the prison to collect a donation of 150 hand-knitted caps, all made by inmates working in a small sewing room where shelves are stacked with colorful bolts of cloth and rolls of thread and five sewing machines that date to the 1930s.

Bryan Bechler, a classification counselor for the prison in Monroe, met Megan at a function at Benaroya Hall this summer, where she was a speaker.

Because the work produced by the inmates must be donated, it made sense, he said, to donate their blankets, quilts and other clothing to Megan's efforts.

For inmates who worked on the caps, it means something to them that Megan intends to donate their work to the homeless.

"The important thing is you're doing it for someone else," said Lou DeVincentis, 67, who has sewn several blankets that have been donated.

Another inmate, Alan Guay, 47, began to knit just eight months ago but can now spin out a new hat in about 90 minutes. Guay hasn't met Megan, but through a DVD about her that the inmates were allowed to view, he learned something about her and her charity work.

"We know that she's been through a lot," Guay said.

Megan has several medical challenges, including hemifacial dysplasia, a genetic condition that causes her facial bones to grow at different rates. She has also become blind in one eye. Already, she has endured 26 surgeries to correct problems brought on by these conditions.

Cruel taunts from classmates made grade school tough.

"There was this group of mean girls who would look at me and say, 'Don't you know how ugly you are? If I looked that way, I'd go home and kill myself,' " Megan said.

Megan said the teasing she endured is one reason she chose to help the homeless.

"I know what it's like to be different," she said.

When she was 10, Megan, who began homeschooling after the fourth grade, told her mother she wanted to collect blankets and warm clothes for the homeless.

Jill Johnson said she thinks her daughter was inspired in part by the work of the Shriners, the philanthropic fraternity that operates nonprofit children's hospitals around North America and Hawaii. Megan has been a patient at their Portland hospital since she was 6.

Megan already has two projects, Kids Helping Kids, which collects children's videos and DVDS for local hospitals, and Megan's Mission, which works to raise money to help the homeless.

She also wrote and illustrated a book, "Clowns Make a Difference," about children in a hospital. Money raised from the book sales go to the Shriners.

In the hundreds of blankets she has donated, Megan always includes a note that reads, "Remember someone cares."

"She hand-writes every single one of them," Jill Johnson said.

Megan's efforts have earned the perpetually cheerful teenager a host of accolades, including the 2002 American Red Cross Hero's Award and the 2004 Washington State Outstanding Youth Philanthropist award.

An avid Girl Scout, Megan said she hopes her work delivering the warm clothing Thanksgiving morning will earn her the Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn.

On Thursday, she said she'll be up by 6 a.m. and, with her family, friends and volunteers who join through their church, hit Seattle's streets by 8 a.m.

Megan will be the one pulling the red wagon.

"I don't know why people think the homeless are evil," she said, "when they're just people like us. We all have feelings."

Visit megansmission.freeservers.com to learn more about Megan and her charitable work.

P-I reporter Hector Castro can be reached at 206-448-8334 or hectorcastro@seattlepi.com.If you haven't seen the Video on Megan ask you Shrine PR Chairman he can get it for your club or unit to see.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Los Angeles, CA – November 24, 2008 by Steve Brand– The First Lady of the Republic of Korea, Kim Yoon-ok, visited Shriners Hospitals for Children in Los Angeles this morning. She and her husband, President Lee Myung-bak, were returning from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit recently completed in Lima, Peru. First Lady Kim Yoon-ok was especially interested in the Los Angeles Shriners Hospital since approximately 3% of the patients of the hospital come from Korea. While Korea has an excellent medical system, the physicians at Shriners Hospitals are experts in the latest advances in orthopedic, burn reconstruction and cleft lip / palate treatment. The First Lady was welcomed by Stuart Wright, Chairman of the hospital’s Board of Governors and Terrence Cunningham, hospital administrator. Said Mr. Cunningham, “We are honored by the visit of the First Lady of Korea to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Los Angeles today. We are very proud of our cooperative relationship with the Republic of Korea and look forward to being able to care for more of your children in need of our specialized care.”

After a brief visit with the staff of the hospital, the First Lady toured the facility and then met with the Korean patients currently being cared for by the hospital. She stated, “I’m very glad that I could be here today and am very thankful for the treatment that Shriners Hospitals for Children provides to the children of Korea. Her visit to the hospital was coordinated by the office of the Consul General of the Republic of Korea and the local Choong Chung Society of Southern California which is located in Los Angeles not far from the hospital. The group supports Korean children during their stay at the hospital.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

By Bronwyn Turner,Correspondent November 22, 2008GALVESTON —Shriners Hospital for Children-Galveston should reopen at full capacity by the start of the new year without laying off any employees, officials said.

Rumors of the demise of the nationally known burn treatment center are dead wrong, officials said.

“The message we want to put out is that we were hurt badly, but we are not going away,” said John Swartwout Jr., administrator. “With everything happening to UTMB, we want our folks and the community to know, we’re coming back.”

Swartwout’s comments came during large layoffs of University of Texas Medical Branch employees as the John Sealy Hospital downsizes because of hurricane damage. But the layoffs do not mean closing the medical branch’s burn treatment program or its partnership with Shriners Hospital in treating burned children, Swartwout said.

“The fact that UTMB is downsizing has left many people within Shriners and the community skeptical about whether or not we are coming back,” Swartwout said, speaking by phone from his temporary office in the boardroom of Shriners Hospital for Children in Houston. He referred to the displaced staff and patients there as “a hospital in exile.”

“Well, we are coming back,” he said. “The board of trustees has extended the hazard pay — they call it disaster pay — until Jan. 1. We fully expect to be back and functioning by that date.”

Shriners Hospital for Children-Galveston is one of only four burn specialty units in the Shriners hospital system. It’s ranked among the best pediatric burn hospitals in the world.

The hospital at 815 Market St. in Galveston opened in 1996, guided by Dr. Truman Blocker, a plastic surgeon and burns specialist who established the medical branch’s burn unit. Shriners Hospital contracts with the medical branch for doctors and other medical services.

More than 18,000 children from across the country and the world have been treated in the hospital, which includes an intensive care unit with 15 beds, a reconstruction and plastic surgery unit with 15 beds, three operating rooms, a multi-bed recovery room, clinics and a large outpatient population. The hospital employs 325 people.

In 2007 alone, the hospital recorded 1,557 admissions, 1,602 surgeries, 12,523 in-house clinic visits and 1,296 patients seen in outreach clinics. Patients do not pay.

The hospital’s operating budget of about $34 million comes from an endowment for the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Fast Evacuation

The Galveston hospital was operating at full capacity the week of Sept. 12, when forecasts of Hurricane Ike’s dangers prompted evacuation. Six critically injured patients were flown by chartered Lear jets to a sister hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, accompanied by staff and parents. Several more children were sent to a sister hospital in Shreveport, La., along with parents and staff.

A group of 17 residential outpatients, children who had temporarily moved to Galveston for daily specialized outpatient treatments, were sent to a shelter set up for them at a middle school on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station.

Within 12 hours, by the night of Sept. 11, the evacuation was completed. When Hurricane Ike arrived, a surge of more than two feet of water swept through the first floor of the hospital, and then receded in a matter of hours.

Major utilities were no longer functioning because of water damage. Emergency generators had shut down. Electrical switchgear was underwater. Fire pumps and fire alarms were dead. Medial gas pumps were down.

“So unlike Hurricane Rita, where we turned around and came back in a few days, it became painfully apparent we were not gong to come back any time soon,” Swartwout said.

Evacuated patients were admitted to Shriners Burn Hospitals in Cincinnati and Boston. Residential outpatients were brought from the College Station shelter to Houston Shriners Hospital for Children.

Temporary Location

Many of the Galveston Shriners Hospital staff continue to care for patients in Houston.

Administrative staff is set up in the boardroom. A sign taped on the door reads “Shriners Hospital-Galveston North.”

Weekly “town hall meetings” are held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in La Marque to keep staff updated. A distribution center has been established for employees in need of food, clothing and household items.

“One of the things that surprised me is the spirit of our employees, the spirit of family that our employees have exhibited to one another,” Swartwout said. One group of employees, calling itself Muscles on Demand — the MOD Squad — formed a cleanup crew, helping fellow employees with cleanup and repairs on their homes.

Repairs are continuing in Galveston. The hospital will reopen with the first floor lobby and office area still undergoing remodeling. Treatment facilities are located on upper floors.

“We are all itching to get back to work,” Swartwout said. “All of the things that need to be fixed are in process. It’s complicated, and it takes time.

Friday, November 21, 2008

A candlight vigil for Choctaw and Lucky, two horses killed on a private Livermore ranch in October, hopes to bring attention to the ongoing investigations for the person(s) responsible.

The East Bay SPCA, Shriners Hospitals for Children and Hoofprints on the Heart host the vigil, which will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday Nov.22 at Robertson Park in Livermore. Hundreds of animal lovers are expected to attend.

A reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved has grown to $20,000. The horses were killed during the night of Oct. 21 while at pasture.

The family who owned Choctaw and Lucky are said to be devastated by the tragic loss.

"Choctaw has spent virtually his entire life performing in parades and charity events, promoting the Shriners Hospitals for Children and Hoofprints on the Heart Adaptive Riding Center for children with special needs," owner Mike Rountree said. "We had rescued Lucky after he had been living in a terrible situation. He had regained his health and was very happy living with his new herd. This was a senseless and brutal crime that caused so much suffering. Our family is shattered by this event."

East Bay SPCA Executive Director Allison Lindquist urged the public to participate in the vigil.

"We call upon everyone to give Lucky and Choctaw a voice," she said. "Those horses gave so much to the community, and we will not rest until the person responsible for taking their lives is identified and prosecuted."

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Scott Sutherland with the Contra Costa County Sherriff's Department at 313-2654.

RIVERDALE -- Volunteering at the Riverdale senior center has kept Lois Davis from locking herself in her house.

"When I retired (as a cook at Canyon View Elementary), I decided I'm going to sit and relax a while. When I realized I didn't even want the doorbell to ring because I didn't want to be bothered, I knew I needed to get out of the house. Staying home wasn't what I wanted," she said.

Now Davis spends almost as much time at the senior center as she does at home. For her latest project, Davis brought her work home with her, as she helped cut fabric for 410 admission bags for Shriners Hospital, so they would be ready for seniors to sew and donate to the hospital to fill with toiletries and toys for their patients.

Mike Babcock is the public relations director for Salt Lake City Shriners Hospital. He said the hospital needs about 1,300 bags each year for children who come for surgery.

"It's the first thing a child gets and helps set the tone. It puts them at ease and comforts them right off the bat," he said.

The seniors got the bags done with some help from employees of Citibank in Layton and their family members. Peggy Smith said each year Citi employees are encouraged to reach out to the community on Global Volunteer Day.

"If we don't support our seniors, where are we going to be?" Sandy Vaughan said, explaining why she chose to support this project.

Volunteers pitched in for any number of reasons.

Seventeen-year-old Storee Nelson said she came with her mom because she needs service hours for clubs at school.

Senior Diane Wilson said she comes for the friendship. "There's lots of nice people over here," she said.

Ona Johnston said what's being served to eat usually determines whether she's at the center, but this time she chose to be there to work on the bags because, "They asked for help, so I came."

Davis said seniors at the center are often busy with service projects, and many others contributed by donating money for fabric or stuffed animals to put in the bags.

"They were really good about stuffed animals," Davis said, "They donated a lot of them."

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov 19, 2008 Kodak and the PGA TOUR today announced the 24 holes that will make up the Kodak Challenge, a first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players that offers $1 million to the winning player.

The Kodak Challenge, which tees off in January 2009, celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR. The holes, selected by an Advisory Board composed of leading golf experts and influentials, are featured on kodakchallenge.com, where fans can view photos, watch videos of the Advisory Board's discussion, and read about the memorable moments on each hole.

"These 24 Kodak Challenge holes are among the most beautiful and memorable in all of golf, and we look forward to the many Kodak Moments to come when the Kodak Challenge tees off in January," said Jeffrey Hayzlett, Chief Business Development Officer and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. "The excitement and anticipation will build throughout the season as players step up to each Kodak Challenge hole and compete for the one million dollars. All they have to do is play -- it's that simple."

Players must play at least 18 of the 24 Kodak Challenge holes throughout the season to compete for the Kodak Challenge title and $1 million. A player's lowest score relative to par on 18 of the Kodak Challenge holes will be counted. In the case of a tie, a sudden death playoff on the final hole will take place immediately after conclusion of the last tournament of the Kodak Challenge, the Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart.

Kodak also launched an online promotion inviting fans to submit their favorite golf photo for "Kodak Challenge Golf Picture of the Week." Fans who submit a photo on kodakchallenge.com today through December 16 will also be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a KODAK EASYSHARE W1020 Wireless Digital Frame. One winner will be selected at random each week for four weeks. See kodakchallenge.com for rules and regulations.

"Kodak and the PGA TOUR have worked closely together to develop this exciting new competition that will generate a lot of interest, particularly as it culminates during the Fall Series," said Tom Wade, Chief Marketing Officer, PGA TOUR. "The Kodak Challenge effectively combines the beauty and the memorable moments found regularly on the PGA TOUR with Kodak's famous brand and image."

"Golf fans will recognize these holes as among the most picturesque and many probably have photos of them. We chose a mix of par 3s, 4s and 5s so that long drivers and accurate putters alike will have a chance for a great score," said Feherty. "The Kodak Challenge is obviously great for the players but especially for the fans, who will be captivated by the players' shots on each Kodak Challenge hole, knowing that a million dollars is on the line with every swing."

Monday, November 17, 2008

It is with much sadness that I must inform the Brothers of ISCA andthe El Zaribah Clown's of the passing of one of our own.

Past Master of Scottsdale 43York Rite, Shrine And Clown

Bruce "Slim" Burley has received a visit from the Black Camel.Visitation will be Tuesday 18NOV2008 from 5PM to 7PM at the PhoenixMemorial Park, 200 W Beardsley Road, Phoenix, AZ 85027Services will be Wednesday 19NOV2008 the Shepherd of the ValleyLutheran Church 1500 W Maryland, Phoenix, AZ 85015

The Great Architect has seen the need to ask for another one of theEl Zaribah Clowns to join that celestial Big Top where the show neverends.Joy of life and the joy in life is the life of a clown. Seeking achild's smile and then to see that smile come from within is acompleteness that most adults do not ever get a chance to see fromchildren that aren't their own.May God Bless our Brothers family in this their time of sorrow.Please lift the family up in your daily prayers that they may begranted the peace in knowing that God is our overseer and that it isin his time that we are called home to heavens gates. May thememories of the Husband, father and friend be held in the family'shearts and minds forever.

Until we meet again on that Circus Wagon that is pulled by thoseBlack Camels may our Brother rest in peace.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Area firefighters are joining forces to provide holiday cheer to children in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California.

Capt. Jim Doucette of the Sacramento Fire Department said his department is being joined by the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District and the West Sacramento Fire Department, along with other organizations.

"We are asking the public to drop off new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages – from infants to teens – at any local fire station participating in the Toy Brigade," said Doucette, who is chief organizer of the Toy Brigade.

"Every year, firefighters make a holiday visit to the Sacramento Shriners Hospital, and we will deliver the toys at that time," he said.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Bobby Ross and Gene Stallings Take the Helm at 84th Annual East-West Shrine Game

Houston, TX – Two storied former NFL and college coaches, Bobby Ross and Gene Stallings, will be leading college football’s finest at the 84th Annual East-West Shrine Game, Jan. 17, 2009, in Houston, Texas, at the University of Houston’s Robertson Stadium.

The football match-up, which began in 1925, features many of the best college players in the U.S. and Canada, divided by region but coming together to raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children, an international health care system of 22 hospitals across North America.

Gene Stallings, who will lead the West team, brings 18 years of NFL experience to this year’s game, as well as an impressive record as a college head coach.

“There is no question that I am looking forward to working with the young players, helping them showcase their abilities in front of important NFL scouts,” said Stallings. “I also look forward to working with a great coach like Bobby Ross, coaching these talented athletes as they prepare to move on to the next level of the game.”

Bobby Ross, who takes the helm for the East, also comes to the sidelines with an outstanding NFL and college football résumé, including leading the San Diego Chargers to Super Bowl XXIX.

“I am excited about the opportunity to get back on the field and work with the finest players in the country,” said Ross. “The philanthropy behind the game makes it very special and it is a privilege to work on such an important game with a talented coach like Gene Stallings.”

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Shriners Hospitals for Children relies on the generous donations of Shriners and the general public to carry out our mission and change the lives of children every day. To date, the East-West Shrine Game has raised millions of dollars for Shriners Hospitals for Children and has helped inform millions of people about the mission of this extraordinary philanthropy.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

by Tom Hallman Jr., The OregonianThursday November 06, 2008, 4:00 AMMotoya Nakamura/The OregonianJose Adan Guardado, 14, was among kids at Portland Shriners Hospital for Children to receive a wheelchair last month, thanks to money raised by local bikers.

Art West is a rough-and-tough kind of guy who's belonged to a motorcycle club for 35 years. But under his leather vest, he hides a soft spot for sick kids.

For the past several weeks, the 57-year-old has been making phone calls, printing fliers and lining up sponsors for a Nov. 8 concert to raise money to buy expensive wheelchairs for children being treated at Portland Shriners Hospital for Children.

"The short version of why I do this is that my wife and I never had any kids," says West, a member of Brothers Speed MC, one of the Northwest's largest motorcycle clubs. "This is a way we can help."

His wife's Portland blues band, Francine West & The High Speed Wobblers, will host Saturday's 10-hour show featuring musicians from this area and California.Motoya Nakamura/The OregonianIsrael Vasquez, 13, talks with Mike Friend, chaplain of motorcycle-rights group Abate of Oregon, after receiving a new wheelchair last month at Shriners Hospital. Bikers also deliver piles of toys to the hospital every December.

The idea traces to 1994, when the band's drummer had a child being treated at Shriners. He told Art West how impressed he was with Portland bikers' support of the hospital. For 28 years, as many as 1,500 bikers have met in December to wind through the city and deliver loads of toys for Shriners patients.

"The drummer said he wished there was something he could do to help as a musician," Art West says. "I thought we could put on a gig as a band and raise money. We got $600 that night."

The event ran for three years, until Francine West took a break from the stage. She returned three years ago, and so did the benefit. The musicians donate their time, and the $5 admission goes toward buying wheelchairs. Last year's show raised $5,000, Art West says.

Tina Huber, who met West through Brothers Speed, says she always attends the show. "My son went to Shriners from the time he was born," Huber says. "He had terrible problems with his legs. They took care of my child, and I didn't pay a dime. My son's married, has a son and a job and can walk. Shriners gave him a life."

West turns the money over to Abate of Oregon, a motorcycle-rights group formed in the 1970s. Mike Friend, who coordinated last year's Toy Run and is Abate's chaplain, says the organization has 2,000 members across Oregon.

"When it first started, most of the members were the real bikers, the so-called 1-percenters," Friend says. "They're still involved, but mostly it's just your average Joe motorcycle rider."

Early on, Friend says, Portland-area bikers had a bad image. Someone in Abate had the idea to change perceptions by doing something for kids.

Toy Run: Public welcome. Riders will start gathering about 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at the TriMet parking lot at 4012 S.E. 17th Ave. Tickets for a chance to win a Harley-Davidson, $10, will be sold there. The drawing will be at noon, and the ride to deliver toys to the Portland Shriners Hospital for Children will begin at 12:30 p.m.

"A handful of bikers in Portland thought they'd get some toys and take them to a hospital for kids," Friend says. "Hospitals turned them down. They figured they stole the toys. Or they said they could bring the toys around to the back door. The Shriners welcomed the group with open arms. We've been with them ever since."

The group raffles off a Harley-Davidson each year, selling tickets at $10 each and announcing the winner at the Toy Run. That money, too, benefits Shriners.

"The bikers fill a need," says Kay Weber, a Shriners spokeswoman. "Some of these wheelchairs can cost more than $10,000. The kids who receive these chairs are from families who have maxed out their lifetime insurance for medical equipment, have no insurance or just can't make ends meet."

Bikers present the chairs several times a year. On Oct. 16, six children received chairs and special equipment totaling $35,000.

"The bikers are so cute," Weber says. "You see them come in all tough looking. Then the therapist talks about the child and why the chair will change their life. You turn around, and all the bikers are wiping their eyes. It's very sweet, and melts your heart."

Monday, November 10, 2008

As it has done every year since 1919, American Legion Post 7 will sponsor a Veterans Day Parade downtown, the post secretary said.

"It's just one way we pay tribute to all veterans," Helen Stout said.

Tuesday's parade will feature 86 entries,including the Shriners and four high school marching bands - Rincon/University, Palo Verde High Magnet, Cholla High Magnet and Catalina Magnet High - Boy, Girl and Cub scouts, and numerous veterans groups, Stout said.

Retired Army Brig. Gen. John Adams will be the grand marshal, and Army National Guard Maj. Chad Smith will be the reviewing officer. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base commander Col. Paul T. Johnson will be in the reviewing stand, Stout said.

Junior ROTC units from Flowing Wells, Cholla and Desert View high schools will participate, as will a nine-member honor guard of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Staging will start at 9:30 a.m. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. at West 13th Street and South Sixth Avenue, go north on Sixth to West Broadway, then west on Broadway to Granada Avenue and south on Granada to the Tucson Convention Center.

Motor vehicle traffic along the parade route will be prohibited. Minor traffic restrictions downtown between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m are expected.

Friday, November 7, 2008

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR FOOTBALL’S FINEST HOURHouston to Host 2009 East-West Shrine Game Jan. 17, 2009Houston, TX – Tickets for the 84th East-West Shrine Game are now on sale just in time for the holiday gift-giving season.The game is set for Jan. 17, 2009, at the University of Houston’s Robertson Stadium and will feature many of college football’s best players, in addition to a pair of storied head coaches, Bobby Ross and Gene Stallings, who will be leading the teams for bi-coastal bragging rights.Tickets may be purchased online at the following Web sites:www.Shrinegame.comwww.uhcougars.comwww.ticketmaster.comTickets may also be purchased by phone at (713) 462-6647 or in-person at the University of Houston Ticket Office, located at 3100 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77204.Since 1925, the East-West Shrine Game has been played to raise money and to increase public awareness of the specialty pediatric care available, at no charge, at Shriners Hospitals for Children. More than 865,000 young patients with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate have received one-of-a-kind care at the 22 Shriners Hospitals throughout North America, two of which are in Houston and Galveston, Texas.To date, this historic game has raised millions of dollars for Shriners Hospitals for Children and has helped inform millions of people about the mission of this extraordinary philanthropy.

He was one of 26,011 kids - 81 percent from Hawaii and others from the Asia-Pacific region - whose lives have been transformed by Shriners in 85 years of free orthopedic care.Shriners Hospital for Children-Honolulu strengthened him physically and emotionally in his young years, says Wesley T. Park, 71-year-old Honolulu businessman and educator.

Park said that when he was 5, his parents took him to the former Children's Hospital to have his tonsils out "and the next thing I know, I was in an iron lung."

He had polio, which affected his upper body, he said. He remembers hearing the doctor tell his parents he "probably didn't have much chance."

He doesn't know how long he was in the iron lung. "The next thing I know, I'm at Shriners Hospital," he said, explaining his head was tilted on his weak neck, he couldn't lift his right arm above his shoulder and when he raised his left arm it would fall.

He went to Shriners twice a week until he was in high school, working with the late Ruth Aust, a physical therapist there from 1947 to 1969. He said she had a profound impact on his feelings, telling him, "Don't ever back down. Don't let anyone think you're a cripple."

Growing up in Kakaako and Kalihi, that meant a lot of fistfights, he recalled in an interview.

"Somehow I survived that," he said with a laugh, "but I had a lot of lumps on my head."

Shriners Hospital for Children-Honolulu strengthened him physically and emotionally in his young years, says Wesley T. Park, 71-year-old Honolulu businessman and educator.

Screenings for free care at hospitalA free screening clinic for new patients will be held by Shriners Hospital for Children-Honolulu as part of is 85th birthday celebration tomorrow. Children under age 18 with an orthopedic condition may be eligible for free care at the hospital. To schedule a screening appointment between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow, call 951-3620.He was one of 26,011 kids - 81 percent from Hawaii and others from the Asia-Pacific region - whose lives have been transformed by Shriners in 85 years of free orthopedic care.

The hospital, at 1310 Punahou St., will celebrate its birthday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow with games, refreshments and information booths by organizations that serve children with bone, joint and muscle conditions.

"Today, we're just as committed to providing quality orthopedic care at no charge to more children," said Stan Berry, Shriners Hospital administrator. "It doesn't matter what a family's income may be or whether they have medical insurance. Families never see a bill from Shriners Hospital."

Screenings for free care at hospitalA free screening clinic for new patients will be held by Shriners Hospital for Children-Honolulu as part of is 85th birthday celebration tomorrow. Children under age 18 with an orthopedic condition may be eligible for free care at the hospital. To schedule a screening appointment between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow, call 951-3620.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

To promote healthy lifestyles for children and raise money for children’s orthopaedic health care, the Spokane Shriners Hospital has launched ‘Reach the Beach,’ a 400 mile “virtual” walk across the state of Washington.

More than half the hospital’s employees are participating by tracking their individual exercise and recording their miles. In the first week of the event, participants logged a collective total of more than 1,000 miles. The campaign, which began in late September, continues throughout October. All of the funds raised locally will benefit the Spokane Shriners Hospital.

Reach the Beach effort is being done in partnership with Together for Kids, a national alliance of more than 50 children’s hospitals.

About Together for KidsTogether for Kids (www.togetherforkids.org) is a national alliance of children’s hospitals and other hospitals serving children, dedicated to building a healthier future for America’s kids. The organization provides an urgently needed national fundraising mechanism for its member hospitals, helping them care for seriously ill children and tackle the toughest health issues facing all kids, with a focus on childhood obesity and injury prevention. The organization was established in 2007 and consists of 53 hospitals in 47 U.S. cities.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Michael and Marianne Rountree, the owners of a pair of tobiano Paint horses found shot and killed in their pasture, are offering a $20,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the capture of the horses' assailant. The couple discovered their horses, Lucky and Choctaw, dead in the pasture at their ranch on Collier Canyon Road in Livermore, Calif., on Oct. 22. The horses appeared to have been shot with a .22-caliber rifle. Lucky was shot twice in the abdomen, while Choctaw had a gunshot wound to his heart.

Choctaw, one of the horses found shot in the Rountree's Livermore, Calif., pasture, was a frequent feature in Rose Bowl parades.The Rountrees began the reward fund with $5,000 on the day the horses were discovered dead, Michael Rountree said. Since then, public donations continue to increase the reward.

"I'm overwhelmed by the public's response," he said. "This is a significant amount of money. It should convince someone to come forward."

Contra Costa Sheriff's Department Director of Public Affairs Jimmy Lee was unavailable to comment on the ongoing investigation.

Choctaw had frequently appeared Rose Bowl Parades, as well as at special events on behalf of Hoofprints on the Heart Adaptive Riding Center for special needs children in Livermore. Lucky, acquired from a rescue last February, visited children in Shriners Hospital burn units.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department at 925/313-2654. Visit Hotharc.com to contribute to the reward fund.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

A free screening clinic offered by the Shriners on Saturday at Sierra View District Hospital left parents of children relieved to know that hope was in sight.

Such was the case for the Cisneros family, who came to the clinic to have their youngest child's feet evaluated — and ended up having two of their three children referred to Fresno for further studies.

“We brought our youngest daughter in because she is always falling. She falls when she walks and when she tries to run, she can’t,” said Carlos Cisneros. “We heard this group was going to be here, so that is why we came.”

Karla 2, sat quietly on her father’s lap as her parents removed her shoes and pointed to her feet.

“She was born with one foot turning in more than the other,” her mother Rosio Cisneros said. “It hurt me so bad to see her always falling. I knew it wasn’t right. I took her to the pediatrician and they said she will probably grow out of it and to give it some time and see if she would outgrow it.”

But Karla didn’t.

“It got worse. I didn’t know how to help her. Every time she fell, it just hurt me,” Rosio Cisneros said. “Then we saw a lady in the store with a child wearing braces. Her child had the same thing. She referred us to Dr. Marmolejo and when we went to see him, he told us about this clinic.”

What the parents also discovered was that their 6-year-old daughter Janila Cisneros also had the same foot problem.

“She was the first born, so we didn’t catch it when she was learning to walk,” Rosio Cisneros said. “I thought it was normal for her to fall so much. We’re happy our middle girl doesn’t need any treatment. Her feet appear to be fine.”

Podiatrist Ron Marmolejo was on hand Saturday to evaluate the Cisneros, and other children, for possible Shriner Hospital services.

“We usually get about seven or eight references out of the 20 or so children we will see today,” Marmolejo said. “We see anything from orthopedic problems to cerebral palsy, to [scars from] previous burns. And we send them off to see some world experts. The services are totally free. It is an amazing program. The State has some nice programs for kids but the problem is, the State is broke. What the Shriners do is amazing.”

Also on hand to help were a couple of translators, high school seniors Maria Lemus and Sue Ellen Bracamontes from the PHS Partnership Academy of Health.

A couple of Shriner clowns kept the children smiling and laughing by offering balloon animals and other silly entertainment.

Six clinics are held every year, three in the spring, and three in the fall, said Shriner Walt Kasabian, who has spearheaded the clinic since it’s incept at the hospital six years ago.

“We have them in Merced, Madera, Fresno, Visalia, Corcoran and Porterville,” Kasabian said. “We’ve actually had them since 1988 when the Noon Time Rotary Club had the screenings at the fairgrounds. But for the past six years, we’ve taken them over and have had them here at the hospital and Dr. Marmolejo has been faithful and volunteered at every since one.”

Kasabian said the Shriners talked to school nurses and placed flyers around town for referrals, and Shriner Roy Pond talked about their Sacramento facility, where children who need surgery are sent.

“It is a seven-story, state-of-the-art hospital,” Pond said. “It is an amazing research center. We have a Ronald McDonald House where families can stay up to a week while their child is recovering from surgery. We also help the family with gasoline money. There is no cost to the families whatsoever.”